Wealden

Wealden's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Wealden increased by 6.4%, from about 140,000 to 149,000.

The addition of almost 8,900 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wealden was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More homes with adult children living with their parents

This area saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, only Lewes saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 7.8% to 9.2%).

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.3%) households in Wealden had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 8.2% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 28% to 27%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Wealden

The number of people in Wealden from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 140,000 in 2001 to about 150,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Wealden from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 930 in 2001 to just over 1,700 in 2011 (from 0.7% to 1.2%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 920 to just over 1,400 (from 0.7% to 1.0%).

Just over 340 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 250 in 2001 (0.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Wealden remained close to 97%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Wealden

The number of people in Wealden that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 19,000 in 2001 to just over 39,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 26% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Wealden that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 110,000 in 2001 to about 95,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 64%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 10,000 to about 12,000 (from 7.4% to 7.9%).

About 1,100 people (0.7%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 980 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Wealden increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Wealden by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Wealden that rented privately increased from 6.6% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

The proportion that lived in social housing remained close to 7.8%, while the percentage of Wealden households that owner their home decreased from 83% to 79%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Wealden increased by 4.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wealden, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Wealden working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 17% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Wealden decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Wealden, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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